Sarandon, Broadbent circle ‘Atlas’

Thesps in advanced talks for Wachowski siblings pic

Susan Sarandon and Jim Broadbent are in advanced negotiations to join Tom Hanks and Halle Berry in Tom Tykwer and the Wachowski siblings’ “Cloud Atlas,” which Focus Features Intl. is shopping to buyers.

Focus topper James Schamus announced the news in a private talk at the Olympia Cinema for buyers and distribs, where he confirmed that Hugo Weaving and Ben Whishaw are also in talks to star. Pic is budgeted upwards of $140 million, with substantial support from German partners. ARD Degeto is the latest Teutonic partner to board the pic. Some $2.15 million is coming from regional funder Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg.

Pic, based on the tome by David Mitchell, is co-written and co-directed by the Wachowskis and Tykwer. The film intertwines six stories spanning different times that sees one protag shaped from a murderer into a savior. Lensing is skedded to begin in September.